I’m a huge baseball fan—the kind who has a Fathead of Philadelphia Phillies’ second baseman Chase Utley in her office, the kind who rails against the designated hitter, the kind who looks forward to opening day the way children look forward to Christmas. I once considered moving to another state because I couldn’t get the DIRECTV baseball package at my apartment complex.

As advertising continues its march into every facet of our lives, fans of all sports expect corporate logos on just about everything. Thankfully, baseball has not embraced in-your-face ballpark advertising, at least not completely. Call me a purist, but I’m just not comfortable with Chase Utley sliding into a corporate-sponsored home plate.

What I prefer is really smart, baseball-related advertising. My current obsession happens to be the New Era campaign featuring Alec Baldwin and John Krasinski: “The Trash Talking Begins,” “One Hitter” and “Dog.” The spots, from agency Brooklyn Brothers, play out the rivalry between Yankees and Red Sox fans.

Showcasing pitch-perfect writing and comedic timing (hard to mess up with Alec Baldwin), these commercials deliver a rare moment in advertising: avoiding an overt product mention while selling the product. Although I take issue with Baldwin’s assertion that Philadelphia isn’t a legitimate sports town, I can forgive him for the laughs. It’s all fun and games until the postseason.

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